RETIRED general Charles Flynn, the commanding general of the United States Army Pacific from 2021 to 2024, was the first to declare the upcoming deployment of its new medium-range missile launcher but declined to disclose where. It was only in April 2024 that it was learned that the first-ever overseas deployment of the US Typhon missile system was at Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte to take a significant part in the Philippines-US military exercises "Salaknib" and "Balikatan."
In September 2024, unnamed American and Philippine officials were quoted as saying the Typhon would remain in the Philippines indefinitely. As a matter of fact, Philippine defense officials have expressed "keen interest" in acquiring it to boost the country's defense capability. To that end, about 20 soldiers from the Philippine Army Artillery Regiment were scheduled to train with the US Army Pacific's First Multi-Domain Task Force in mid-February. This triggered vociferous criticism from China, which demanded the Typhon's immediate pullout from the Philippines.
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